Kyle Busch’s family stood with the NASCAR community at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday as thousands of fans honored the late two-time Cup Series champion before the Coca-Cola 600.
Busch’s wife, Samantha Busch, and their children, Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4, attended the pre-race tribute, according to People. Busch’s parents, Tom and Gaye Busch, and his older brother, NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch, were also present for the ceremony.
The tribute came three days after Busch died at age 41 following severe pneumonia and complications from sepsis, according to NASCAR. He had been scheduled to compete in the Coca-Cola 600, one of the sport’s biggest races.
NASCAR Honored Busch Before the Green Flag
In loving memory of Kyle Busch. pic.twitter.com/UvcB5C0oMn
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 24, 2026
NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell addressed the crowd before the race while standing near members of Busch’s family. Reuters reported that O’Donnell called Busch “one of a kind” and told Samantha, Brexton, and Lennix that the NASCAR community would continue to stand with them.
The ceremony included a moment of silence and a tribute on the Charlotte Motor Speedway frontstretch. Race organizers displayed Busch’s No. 8 and signature on the grass, and all 39 cars in the field carried a Busch decal, according to Reuters.
On Lap 8, the track’s public address system and the television broadcast went silent in Busch’s memory. The number carried special weight because Busch had driven the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing since 2023.
Samantha Busch and the Children Were Joined by NASCAR Family
Samantha Busch stood with Brexton and Lennix during the ceremony as NASCAR officials, relatives, drivers, and team figures gathered around the family. The Associated Press reported that O’Donnell told the children their father loved them and told the family, “we’ve got you.”
The public appearance followed several days of tributes from across NASCAR and the wider motorsports world. Busch was one of the most successful drivers of his generation, with Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019.
People reported that the family had shared Busch’s cause of death one day before the Coca-Cola 600 tribute. The family said a medical evaluation concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, leading to rapid and overwhelming complications.
Richard Childress Racing Set Aside the No. 8
Richard Childress Racing changed the number on the car Busch had been scheduled to drive at Charlotte. NASCAR.com reported that RCR suspended use of the No. 8 and switched the entry to the No. 33 for Charlotte and beyond.
The team said the No. 8 had become closely tied to Busch and would be reserved for Brexton Busch if he decides to race in NASCAR in the future. Austin Hill drove the renumbered No. 33 Chevrolet in the Coca-Cola 600.
The decision left Busch’s car in the field without using the number most closely associated with his final Cup Series chapter.
Tributes Reached Beyond Charlotte
The Coca-Cola 600 was not the only major racing event to honor Busch during Memorial Day weekend. Reuters reported that Busch was recognized at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Indy 500, where his name, face, and lifespan appeared on the scoring pylon during Lap 18.
The No. 18 also carried meaning in Busch’s career. He spent much of his prime driving the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing from 2008 to 2022 and won both of his Cup Series championships during that stretch.
Busch also won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis twice, in 2015 and 2016. His remembrance at both Indianapolis and Charlotte connected the tribute to two of the biggest American motorsports events of the year.
The Coca-Cola 600 Became a Farewell for One of NASCAR’s Biggest Names
Busch entered NASCAR’s national spotlight as a fierce competitor, but the Charlotte tribute focused heavily on his roles away from the car: husband, father, teammate, adviser, and member of the garage community.
The Coca-Cola 600 is normally one of NASCAR’s showcase races. On Sunday, the pre-race ceremony turned it into a public farewell for a driver who had been expected to be part of the field.
For Busch’s family, the moment placed private grief in front of thousands of fans. For NASCAR, it marked the first major Cup Series race since the death of one of the sport’s defining drivers of the last two decades.